VSS Barrel Picatinny Rails Review

The Echo1 Red Star IGOR (see "Related Links" below) is our favorite airsoft VSS Vintorez. After taking it out to the field last week, we really want to use it all the time. Being a Russian sniper rifle replica, there is no Picatinny rail on it. we have only been able to find a top Picatinny rail mount that could mount to the side. But We would really like to put a foregrip bipod toward the front of it.

That's where we found the "VSS Barrel Picatinny Rails" a highly desirable item. The "VSS Barrel Picatinny Rails" is the first mock silencer Picatinny adapter ring for the VSS Vintorez. Using cutting edge 3D printing technology, Airsoft3D has designed this Picatinny mount adapter that allows you to mount Picatinny accessories anywhere on the VSS Vintorez mock silencer barrel.

We had ordered a "Contour Video Camera Picatinny Weaver Mount" from Airsoft3D before, which uses the same 3D printing technology. Therefore, we have a lot of confidence in this second item we ordered.

Compatibility

The ordering page for the "VSS Barrel Picatinny Rails" claims that it is compatible with the following VSS Vintorez airsoft electronic guns (AEG):

AY VSS Vintorez

Echo1 Red Star IGOR

S&T VSS Vintorez

It also claims that it is compatible with any VSS Vintorez airsoft gun that has a 40mm barrel. Our guess is that all airsoft VSS Vintorez guns will have a 40mm mock silencer. So this adapter will probably work on all airsoft VSS Vintorez to be released in the future.

Build Quality

We ordered the while plastic version of the "VSS Barrel Picatinny Rails" (see photo below). We also ordered it with a raw, unpolished surface. The idea is that we will paint it ourselves to match our Echo1 Red Star IGOR. You can order this mount adapter in different colors with different material.

The Picatinny weaver rails are extremely strong and rigid. The ring portion is slightly flexible and bendable. With its ability to flex, you can either slide it onto the VSS Vintorez from the front or snap it on.

The raw white plastic texture feels like the same texture on a sugar cube, except it is extremely hard and doesn't crumble like a sugar cube. We have used our fingernails on it, it acts very similarly to plastic.

Installation

The item description says you should use a #10-32x2" screw, a #10-32 nut, and two #10 washers to fasten this adapter onto the mock silencer. We had a 3/16"x2" screw that fits well, but we could not find a matching nut. So we just used a smaller spare 2" screw and a matching nut. It seems to work just fine. But after we gotten the correct #10-32x2" hardware, the mount feels much more secure and solid.

The 2" screw is a tad long, but it didn't get in the way of the accessories. It seems 1-3/4" is the appropriate length. If you have a Dremel, you can easily cut a 2" screw down to the right length.

The mount adapter is made out of plastic. Therefore, we only tighten it enough so that it on solidly on the mock silencer. We are sure if you keep tightening it, you will eventually break the plastic adapter. You have to use some common sense when you fasten it.

Painting the Adapter

We wanted to paint the adapter black to match our Echo1 Red Star IGOR. We had some flat black paint. Having experience painting the "Contour Video Camera Picatinny Weaver Mount", we knew it will work out just fine. Photo below shows the adapter painted black.

Performance

We tested the "VSS Barrel Picatinny Rails" with several accessories: Contour ROAM camcorder, Gamo laser sight, and Fidragon foregrip bipod. You can see these accessories mounted on the Echo1 Red Star IGOR below. We shot these photos before painting the adapter so that you can see it on the gun.

For small accessories, like the camcorder and laser sight, the mount is rigid and is no problem. However, the foregrip bipod has a huge lever arm. Putting force on the foregrip will twist and bend the mount adapter. The mount adapter is too thin for the foregrip. We suspect using the foregrip in a hearty fashion will snap the plastic adapter.

You can mount two or three of these "VSS Barrel Picatinny Rails" in a row. That would provide much more rigidity to the structure. The following photo shows that the foregrip bipod supports the VSS Vintorez quite well. If we just have a few more mount adapters... (we are ordering some more).

You'll also want at least two of these mount adapters to mount bigger accessories, such as the M203 grenade launcher. With the "VSS Barrel Picatinny Rails", you can mount so many Picatinny accessories that we never have thought possible.